Punch type can opener



Feb. 6, 1951 F. MYERS PUNCH TYPE CAN OPENER Filed July 25, 1949 FredMyers 1 N V ENTOR.

Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,540,541 PUNCH TYPECAN OPENER Fred Myers, Fallbrcok, Calif.

Application July 25, 1949,, Serial No. 160,642

r 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to can openers of the type wherein the topof a milk or juice can is punctured, by penetrating punch means, ateither one or'two points to facilitate pouring of the contents of a caninto a glass or equivalent container. It will be evident from theintroductory statement of my invention that I am aware that there aremany and varied types of so-called can punches and that some are used topuncture two holes at diametrically opposite points, while others puncha single hole. Usually, there is a suitable frame in which the can isracked and securely held, and a pivoted lever on the frame, said leverbeing provided with a prong or equivalent punch to make a hole in thetop of the can whenpressure is brought to bear on the punchequippedlever. Having experimented with countless types of can punches in thecategory under consideration, I have discovered the need for what Ibelieve to be a more satisfactory construction wherein novelty has to dowith the point at which the hinged end of the lever is pivoted inrespect to the top and body of the can and wherein the punch is situatedideally in relation to the pivot point to swing in an are which resultsin expeditious opening of the can.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my primary object is,therefore, to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve uponknown types of lever-equipped can-top punches and to attain the wantedends through the medium of an especially shaped frame structure and anovelly pivoted lever which carries the punch.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a can holding and can-top punchconstructed in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view with parts in section and elevation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the lever hinging arrangement, partsbeing in elevation and in section.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the appearance of theopening which has been struck in the top of the can.

Referring now to the views of the drawings by reference numerals andaccompanying lead lines,

the frame structure for supporting the can 5 is characterized primarilyby a relativelystationary upright. l. The upper end of this isbifurcated and the. furcations have straight portions 8 8 and downturnedfree end portions 9-9, the latter being at oblique angles tothe bodyportion of said upright. The bends defining th straight and angularportions 8-8 and 99, respectively, are

" denoted by the numerals Ill. The terminals of the angularly bentportions 9-9 are formed into bearing eyes lI-ll toaccommodateahinge pinl2 which, in turn, serves to hingedly mount the eye 13 of the lever M inplace. Lever l4 terminates in a suitable finger ring or grip l5 and itwill be noticed that the lever extends through the slots whichexistbetween furcations B- -B and therefore works, let us say, outwardlyof-.-the

wall l6 of the can. I On the other hand; the pivoted end of the lever issuspended in a suitably elevated position over the top I! of the can.The rim of the can top is denoted at I8. The can which is to bepunctured is seated on a supporting arm l9 having a slot 2|] whichslidably surrounds said upright l. The slotted end portion of the armhas an inturned or suitably curved hook 2| which, in turn, is providedwith a setting and retaining prong or detent 22. The detent is, ineffect, a keeper and is adapted to be selectively seated in any one ofthe recesses 23 forming selectively usable keeper seats for said keeper.It follows, therefore, that the can resting or seating arm 19 may beadjusted up and down to put the can top at the proper level forpuncturing purposes. The pressure of the puncturing element is in adirection from the rim l8 toward the center of thetop. This necessitatesusing a special puncturing element which I broadly identify as awedge-type punch 24. The punch has diverging walls 25 and a curvatecutting edge 26 and a penetrating point 21. Obviously, therefore, theouter or left-hand end of the lever is lifted up to a position abovethat shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 3 so that the penetratingpoint is above the level of the can top. Then, the lever is swun down(down in relation to the views of the drawing) and the point 21 firstenters the top I! just inwardly of the rim, let us say at the point A.Then, the cutting edge sweeps through an are determined by the pivotwhich overhangs the can top. Not only does the punch slice but it wedgestoo, and thus provides a pair of substantially semi-triangular downbentflanges 28. It follows that the finished opening is V-shaped with thevertex of the V facing toward the radial center of the can top. Thisidea of slicing" from the rim inwardly toward the center utilizes tobest advantage the leverage principle which I have adopted and is suchthat my frame is specifically distinct, the manner of hinging oi thelever is new, and the principle of applyin the forces of a wedge-shapedpunch is of significance. Collectively, these features define what Ibelieve is a unique instrumentality in this art.

In practice, the .frame structure may be attached t'o a wall or ot'hersupport, and to accomplish this, I have adopted L-shaped brackets 29 and30 with laterally bent apertured attaching ends 3| and 32. Bracket 30 isbolted in place at 33 and bracket29 is riveted in place *at'3'4.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those .skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accord ingly deemed unnecessary.

"It is to be understood, however, that even thoug-h there is hereinshown "and described a "preferred embodiment of the invention, the sameis susceptible to certain changes iully comprehended by the spirit ofthe invention 'as herein described and within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having "described the invention, what :is claimed "as new is:

1. In a-can holding and punching device of the "downwardly in respect tosaid body, said free end "portions terminating in hinge pin knuckles, a

hinge pin mounted in said knuckles, alever having a portion extendingbetween the furcations and terminating in an eye, said eye beingconnected with said hinge pin, the" opposite end por'-" tion of thelever extending between and beyond the furcations to a. point, remotefrom said knuckles, and a can punch carried by the eyeequipped end ofsaid lever.

2. In a can holding and punching device of the class described, a framestructur embodying an upright, said upright having one end bifurcated,the f-urcations of said .0118 end having straight portions in a planewith the body of the upright and having free end portions bent laterallyand downwardly in respect to said body, said free end portionsterminating in hinge pin knuckles, a hinge pin mounted in said knuckles,a lever having .:a portion extending between the furcations andterminating in an eye, said eye being connected with said hinge pin, theopposite end portion 'of the lever extending between and beyond thefurcations to a point remote from said knuckles, and a can punch carriedby the eyeequipped end of said Zlever, said .can punch being-wedge-shaped in cross-section and having va curvate cutting edge andpenetrating point,.s aid ,point entering thecan top to initiate theincision and said curvate edge serving to slice through an arcuate pathto complete :the incision and to spread the edge portions of the wallsthereof apart.

FRED MYERS.-

REFERENCES CIT-ED The following references are of record in 'the "iii-eof this patent:

UNIT-ED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 579,084 Stewart Mar. 16,18372,043,654 'Donat 3111169, .1936

Sha'fier Nov. .1, v1938

